Sun
Conscious Reduction
When you receive Hexagram 41, Sun, the I Ching turns your attention to conscious reduction. Decrease. Below is its judgment, its image, and the meaning of each changing line.
The Judgment
Decrease. With sincerity, great good fortune. No error. Steadfastness can be maintained. Advantage in every direction. How shall this sincerity be employed? Even two baskets of grain, with nothing else, may be presented as offering.
Classical (Legge)In (what is denoted by) Sun, if there be sincerity (in him who employs it), there will be great good fortune — freedom from error; firmness and correctness that can be maintained; and advantage in every movement that shall be made. In what shall this (sincerity in the exercise of Sun) be employed? (Even) in sacrifice two baskets of grain, (though there be nothing else), may be presented.
The Image
Mountain above, marsh below. Sun. One who is centered restrains wrath and tempers desire.
Classical (Legge)(The trigram representing) a mountain and beneath it that for the waters of a marsh form Sun. The superior man, in accordance with this, restrains his wrath and represses his desires.
The Changing Lines
He sets aside his own affairs and hurries to help another. No error. Let him consider how much of his own he should give.
Classical (Legge)He suspends his own affairs, and hurries away (to help the subject of the fourth line). He will commit no error, but let him consider how far he should contribute of what is his (for the other).
Advantage in holding firm. Make no move to diminish others. By not diminishing others, he increases his own virtue.
Classical (Legge)It will be advantageous for (the subject of this line) to maintain his firm correctness, and that he make no movement (for the diminution of others). Not diminishing it, he will increase (his own virtue).
When three walk together, their number is reduced by one. When one walks alone, he finds a companion.
Classical (Legge)When three men are walking together, the number will be diminished by one; when one man is walking, he will get a companion.
He diminishes his ailment by calling swift help to his side. His joy increases. No error.
Classical (Legge)He diminishes the ailment under which he labours by making (the subject of the first line) hasten (to his help), and his joy is increased. There will be no error.
Someone indeed increases him. Ten pairs of tortoise shells cannot oppose it. Great good fortune.
Classical (Legge)Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoise shells (whose oracles) cannot be opposed (to it). There will be great good fortune.
He gives increase to others without taking from his own. No error. With steadfastness, good fortune. Advantage in every direction. He will find ministers for the state and yet no family to call specially his own.
Classical (Legge)He gives increase to others without taking from what is his own. There will be no error. With firm correctness there will be good fortune. There will be advantage in every movement that shall be made. He will find ministers (for the state) and yet no family (to call specially his own).
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